Zach Parise thought he scored the game-tying goal with just two seconds left against the Islanders. After all, he crashed the net peppered away at the puck and had it glance off his skate and past Al Montoya.

As it turns out, the NHL war room in Toronto saw things just a bit differently and ruled that he directed the puck into the net with his skate, wiping away the goal and giving the Islanders a 3-2 win in New Jersey. As you might imagine, that ruling didn’t sit too well with Devils captain Parise.

“A tight game like that where we worked to get back into it and they make the wrong call.”

“I just watched it and I’m sorry, but I can’t agree with it,” Parise said. “I knew it hit off my skate. I knew it hit off my stick too, but if that’s a kicking motion, then I don’t know.”

While the Isles were happy to see the decision work for them, the play itself is highly dubious. Check out the video and see for yourself.

The NHL situation room said they waved off the goal because Parise used his skate to propel the puck to the net. The rule book is written saying that a “distinct kicking motion” cannot be used to put the puck in the net. It would seem the NHL went outside of their rules to wipe this goal out. What do you think though?

Clearly used his skate and was a little baby and smashed his stick whether he disagreed or not he’s an adult and a professional you don’t act that way

Scott - Nov 26, 2011 at 7:57 PM

Not a fan of either team, but this call is pretty consistent with every other overturned “skate” goal I’ve seen in recent years. The puck, intentionally or not, is propelled into the net with Parise’s skate. I’ve definitely seen Toronto overturn kicked goals that were far more subtle than this one.

I agree the rule is not great. But Toronto has applied it pretty consistently in my viewing experience (which is more expansive than I care to admit).

I suspect Toronto had a better look at it than is possible with this video. It does, however, look as if he propels it in with his skate as opposed to it simply bouncing off his skate so I would not agree that the NHL went outside of the rules.

Even if you assume it was a bad call, however, Parise should keep it zipped. For one thing, in an 82 game season, you are likely going to be the beneficiary of bad calls at least as often as the victim. Also, bad mouthing official judgments may make on and off ice officials less sympathetic in the future. Finally, there was a time when comments such as Parise’s left the player or coach in question a little lighter in the wallet. What happened with that?

icetheoffice - Nov 26, 2011 at 11:47 PM

Have to agree with Scott. The puck was propelled into the net with the movement of Parise’s skate. Consistency is key with the war room in Toronto. If they can continue to identify and overturn “skate” goals similar to this one, I have no problem with the above Devils goal being overturned.

A bad break for the Devils but the good and bad come with every season.